Artwork

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, by Francesco Hayez, ink, 1827
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, by Francesco Hayez, ink, 1827

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Hayez. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots is a lithograph by Italian artist Francesco Hayez, dated to circa 1827, and is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene portrait of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, with her eyes closed, suggesting introspection or solemnity. Her attire, including a dark dress, high white collar, pulled-back hair under a crown, and a hint of feather or fur trim, conveys regal status.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work features soft, smudged lines reminiscent of pencil strokes, a characteristic achievable through the lithographic process, which involves drawing directly onto a stone plate.

History & Provenance

Created around 1827 by Francesco Hayez, the lithograph is now housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of its collection.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.